Biogeochemical characteristics of Rosa canina grown in hydrothermally contaminated soils of the Gümüşhane Province, Northeast Turkey Alaaddin Vural Received: 17 March 2015 /Accepted: 23 June 2015 # Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2015 Abstract Kı rkpavli alteration area (Gümüşhane, Northeast Turkey) is contaminated by heavy metals such as Cd, Pb, As, Cu and Zn. The quantity of accu- mulation of heavy metal trace elements and macroelements in 32 leaves of Rosa canina of the Kırkpavli alteration area has been studied within the scope of geochemical studies. Element contents of sam- ples were assessed using various parameters including descriptive statistics, factor analysis, correlation coeffi- cients and bioaccumulation factor. Concentrations were detected in the acceptable range for Mo, Cu, Pb, Ni, As, Cd, Sb, P, Ti, Na, Se and Sn. Concentrations of Co, Mn, Ba and Hg were detected close to the acceptable values, whereas Zn, Fe, Sr, V, Ca, Cr, Mg, B, Al, K,W, Sc, Cs and Rb concentrations were detected above the accept- able values. Principal component analysis was used to identify the elements that have a close relationship with each other and/or similar origins. It has been concluded that Zn, Cu, As and Mo content of the plant were related to hydrothermal alteration process and they behaved together, whereas Mn and Fe were espe- cially products of weathering conditions, also be- haved together. In terms of macroelements, Ca, Mg and Na had similar behaviour, while P and K had the same correlation. Keywords Rosa canina . Principal component analysis (PCA) . Spearman correlation (SC) . Bioaccumulation factor (BAF) . Kırkpavli alteration area . Gümüşhane Introduction While alteration areas are important target areas for mineral exploration, these areas constitute a risk for metal pollution in the environment (Vural 2013, 2014). Metal pollution in soil has become a serious problem since the early twentieth century. Increased inputs of these elements in aquatic and terrestrial environments have led to serious environmental pollution. As with human-induced mobilization of trace elements into the biosphere (Arık and Yaldız 2010; Vural 2014; Baslar et al. 2009), mobilization of elements in the alteration areas is also an outstanding process in the geochemical cycling of these elements (Vural 2014). Alteration of the rocks reduces the pH of the environment and so makes most elements mobilize. Depending on the mobilization of elements in environment, plants growing in that kind of environment can take up these elements in their organs such as roots, leaves or fruits (Kabata-Pendias and Pendias 2001). As rainfall, metal sulphides are oxidized and so sulphuric acid is generated, which can cause acidification of nearby water bodies. This oxida- tion and weathering process generally increases both the solubility and bioavailability of many elements for plants growing on areas like this. Some plants are accu- mulators or hyperaccumulators of elements, and such species may be used to decontaminate soils by Environ Monit Assess (2015) 187:486 DOI 10.1007/s10661-015-4708-y A. Vural (*) Department of Geological Engineering, Gumushane University, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, 29100 Gümüşhane, Turkey e-mail: vural@gumushane.edu.tr